The story behind Rue de l’Apiculteur-Verret

The Verret family store was located in this building, at 7845 1ère Avenue in Charlesbourg. Translation of the text of the historical plaque near the door reads, “Here lived Jacques-Ferdinand Verret (1860-1946). Renowned beekeeper and seedsman, author of a personal journal entitled Mes souvenirs that recalls the daily life in Charlesbourg, Québec, at the end of the 19th century.”

Rue de l’Apiculteur-Verret is named in honour of Jacques-Ferdinand Verret (1860-1946) who was a renowned beekeeper. Born in Charlesbourg (now part of Quebec City), he was the oldest of a family of 10 children. From a young age, he worked with his father, who owned a general store and bakery. He married Lucie Bédard in 1897 but the couple had no children.

In 1897, Verret set out to produce quality honey that won international awards. Over the years he had up to 250 hives that he managed in the Trait-Carré (the historic centre of Charlesbourg where Boulevard Louis-XIV and 1ère Avenue intersect). He founded the Beekeepers’ Association of Quebec and was the president until he died. He was an active participant in the social life of Charlesbourg.

After his father’s death in 1900, Verret took over the family business, which he converted into a granary in the 1930s. Assisted by his nephew, he created a catalogue of all grain found in the province of Quebec. His wife Lucie was the postmistress of the outlet she operated out of their home.

Verret kept a personal journal entitled Mes Souvenirs, in the form of 41 volumes, in which he wrote about his youth and career while describing the details of daily life in Charlesbourg from 1879 to 1946.

Source: Ville de Québec, toponymie.

(Screenshot from Google Maps)

Rue de l’Apiculteur-Verret is a cul-de-sac off Rue Albert-Ouellet, east of Boulevard Henri-Bourassa.